The curtain fell

"Yoriichi!"

"Captain!"

Three voices rang out almost simultaneously.

The first two came from Rukia and Ichigo Kurosaki, while the last came from Renji Abarai, who stood behind Byakuya Kuchiki.

Renji stared wide-eyed at the scabbard pressed beside Byakuya's neck, not daring to make a rash move.

He had not even seen when this boy appeared.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni did not turn around. He calmly watched Byakuya before him.

"I know what you're trying to do."

"But while I'm here, you can't touch him."

Byakuya's expression remained cold, as though what rested beside his neck was nothing more than an ordinary wooden stick.

"You're the unidentified Soul Reaper from the World of the Living in the Twelfth Division's records?"

His gaze fell on the Zanpakuto in Yoriichi's hand, his tone utterly even.

"I didn't expect you to be here too."

As a captain of the Gotei 13, he had no reason to fear a boy of unknown origins from the World of the Living.

Even if the boy was fast.

Yoriichi withdrew his scabbard and turned to support Ichigo.

"So far, my impression of the Soul Society is very poor."

As his words fell, he and Ichigo vanished together.

Byakuya's pupils contracted slightly.

The next instant, Yoriichi appeared beside Rukia with Ichigo and handed the badly injured boy over to her.

"How is that possible..."

Renji instinctively tightened his grip on Zabimaru.

Even while carrying a badly injured person, he could still move that fast.

Not even Byakuya had stopped him in time.

Uryū stood a short distance away, clutching the wound on his shoulder, his eyes grave behind his glasses.

As absurd as ever.

Byakuya slowly turned, his right hand closing around his sword's hilt.

"Good. Let me determine whether you pose a threat to the Soul Society."

He held his Zanpakuto upright before him.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura."

The blade vanished from his hand, and countless tiny pink blades scattered, looking like falling petals in the night.

But every petal was enough to slice through a person's body.

The sea of flowers abruptly changed direction and swept toward Yoriichi and the other two.

"Ichigo!"

Supporting Ichigo, Rukia had no room to dodge.

Yoriichi stepped forward and placed his hand on his sword's hilt.

His breathing remained steady.

His long sword left its sheath, its dark gray blade tracing a complete circle.

"Tenth Form, Blazing Sunlight."

A circular barrier of spiritual pressure instantly spread out, shielding Ichigo and Rukia within.

The densely packed blades struck the barrier with an unbroken series of sharp clinks, yet not one could penetrate Yoriichi's defense.

Byakuya raised his hand, and Senbonzakura rapidly gathered.

But Yoriichi was already gone.

"Captain, to your left!"

Renji had barely shouted when Byakuya raised his sword to block at his side.

Clang!

The scabbard struck the blade formed from the gathered Senbonzakura.

An irresistible force surged through Byakuya's arm. The ground beneath his feet cracked instantly, and he was driven back several meters.

Before he could steady himself, Yoriichi was in front of him again.

There were no unnecessary movements, nor any complicated techniques.

Only slashing, blocking, stepping, and slashing again.

Byakuya raised his sword to defend again and again, but could only retreat each time.

The Limitation Seal suppressed his spiritual pressure, leaving him able to wield only twenty percent of his strength.

But what truly alarmed him was not the difference in power.

It was that he could not read Yoriichi's sword.

Every attack landed precisely where he could not fully defend.

His shoulder, his wrist, beneath his ribs.

After just a few exchanges, his white haori was already stained red with blood.

"Captain!"

Renji tried to rush forward to help, only to be forced to a halt by a gust from the sword.

Yoriichi had not looked at him once.

This guy hasn't even released his Zanpakuto's Shikai.

At that thought, Renji felt his mind struggling to keep up.

Another dull impact sounded.

The sword in Byakuya's hand was knocked aside, and he dropped to one knee, blood dripping down his arm.

Yoriichi raised his scabbard, preparing to knock him unconscious.

But a petite figure suddenly stepped between them.

"Yoriichi, stop."

Yoriichi stopped moving.

Rukia spread her arms, a pleading look in her eyes.

"Please stop fighting. I'm going back to the Soul Society willingly to atone for my sins."

"This was my fault to begin with. Please don't cause any more conflict over me, all right?"

"Rukia, what are you saying?"

Ichigo braced himself against the ground, trying to stand.

"Don't say any more, Ichigo."

Rukia turned to look at him, her voice trembling slightly.

"I'm already sorry for dragging you into this."

"So please, let me go back."

Ichigo opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He wanted to stop Rukia.

But as he was now, he could not even stand.

Rukia looked away and helped the injured Byakuya up.

"Brother, Renji, let's go."

Renji looked at Byakuya, then at Yoriichi, still somewhat dazed.

Before coming to the World of the Living, he had never imagined things would turn out like this.

They had indeed captured Rukia.

But their captain had also nearly croaked here.

The Senkaimon slowly opened.

Byakuya said nothing. Before entering the Senkaimon, he merely turned and gave Yoriichi a long look.

Yoriichi did not stop them either.

This was Rukia's own choice.

Just as the Senkaimon was about to close, Ichigo raised his head with all his strength.

"Rukia!"

"Wait for me!"

"I'll come to the Soul Society and save you!"

Rukia's back trembled slightly, but she did not turn around.

The Senkaimon vanished completely.

The next second, the rain that had been building for so long came pouring down.

Ichigo knelt in the rain, his fists clenched tight.

"Oh my, it looks like everyone's still alive."

A familiar voice came from the other side of the street.

Kisuke Urahara emerged beneath an umbrella, a paper fan hiding half his face.

"It seems there's no need for emergency treatment just yet."

Ichigo raised his head and frowned. "Shopkeeper, what are you doing here?"

"At Miss Rukia's request, of course."

Kisuke Urahara smiled.

"She asked me to keep you alive. My humble shop always takes requests from a big customer very seriously."

Ichigo fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Can you send me to the Soul Society?"

"Yes."

Kisuke Urahara's smile faded.

"But first, you must regain Soul Reaper powers of your own."

"Within ten days, you must go from having lost your powers to truly becoming a Soul Reaper."

"If you can't, you'll die."

Ichigo did not hesitate.

"As long as I can save Rukia, I'll do anything."

Kisuke Urahara smiled again and gently waved his paper fan.

"Very good. At least your spirit passes muster."

He turned toward Yoriichi.

"Yoriichi, would you like to help?"

Yoriichi nodded, then looked at Ichigo.

"Ichigo."

"Starting tomorrow, you'll learn swordsmanship from me."

Ichigo froze for a moment, then nodded firmly.

"All right."

Watching this, the corner of Kisuke Urahara's mouth twitched slightly.

He had originally prepared a complete training plan.

Now it seemed the Underground Training Ground might need reinforcing again.

Yoriichi helped Ichigo up, while Uryū followed beside them, clutching his wound.

Kisuke Urahara walked at the front with his umbrella, but not one person stood beneath it with him.

The four figures slowly receded down the street, soon disappearing into the pouring rain.